Joshua Jenkins directs the Choir from the piano, performing multiple selections during each service.

Jazz, Samba, Cumbia, Bolero, Son, and more! Live music from our quintet to accompany delicious Latin-inspired cuisine and drinks.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Location: National Museum of African Art, Research Gallery, Sublevel 1

Registration is at the Museum’s website:

https://africa.si.edu/event/cheikh-ibra-fam-concert/

After over half a decade with the legendary Orchestra Baobab, Cheikh Ibra Fam has launched his solo career, taking audiences by storm with his blend of Afropop, funk, jazz, and soul, rooted in Senegalese traditions. His songs implore crowds to dance!

He was named a Radio France International (RFI) Talent. “Cosaan” was selected as 2023 Best French Song. Putumayo Cafe International compilation includes his song “Shabida.” In December 2024, he collaborated with blues artist Christine Salem on a musical based on the story of Niama, an enslaved Senegalese princess.

Cheikh Ibra Fam is an activist who has collaborated with the UN Refugee Agency in Senegal and Innovation Africa on the continent.

Get ready for a spectacular party with a French accent! The don’t-miss event is your passport for a world tour of francophone cultures and features Senegalese, Afropop artist Cheikh Ibra Fam. As a child growing up in Dakar, Cheikh Ibra sang spiritual songs in the Baye Fall tradition, heard Afro-Cuban music on the home stereo and fell in love with the voice of Otis Redding. Later, he became enamored with hip-hop and released 3 albums under the stage name Freestyle. After 6 years singing with the legendary Orchestra Baobab, Cheikh Ibra Fam launched his solo-career in 2022 with his album Peace in Africa. His appealing blend of Afropop with funk, jazz, soul, and roots music helped earn him the prestigious Radio France International (RFI) Talent award. Cheikh Ibra Fam is now living in Reunion Island and will be releasing his sophomore album on the Cumbancha label in 2025.

Mark your calendars and delight yourself with stories and some acoustic pieces by Cheikh Ibra Fam at the Alliance Française on March 27 at 7:00 PM.

After over half a decade with the legendary Orchestra Baobab, Cheikh launched his international solo-career in 2022 and has taken audiences around the world by storm with his Afropop blend of funk, afro jazz, soul, and Senegalese traditions. His band is composed of world class artists with extensive experience performing rich and diverse sounds of Africa. They equally represent the diversity and multicultural nature of today’s life in big cities around the world.

With a bold, genre-blending approach, Cheikh’s music encourages listeners to move while also addressing systemic issues that resonate across cultures and languages. Cheikh is a globally recognized artist whose hit singles gained widespread acclaim, with Putumayo World Music featuring his track "Yolele" in their 2022 Global Groove compilation and more recently with "Shabida" this past January. In 2023, his song "Cosaan" was awarded Best French Song by the Charles Cros Academy. His distinctive musical style earned him recognition as a Radio France International (RFI) Talent. This past December Cheikh joined reunionese Maloyan artist Christine Salem in a musical presentation to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Reunion Island through the story of Niama, the enslaved Senegalese princess.

Cheikh has graced stages at major international festivals across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including Nuits D’Afrique in Montreal, Habari Africa in Toronto, the World Music Festival in Chicago, and the New Orleans Jazz Fest. He studied music at the Accademia Musicale di Treviglio in Milan, Italy. Fluent in English, French, and his native Wolof, he seamlessly moves between languages in his performances.

Outside of his music, Cheikh Ibra Fam is also a socially active artist who has collaborated with the UN Refugee Agency in Senegal and Innovation Africa in the continent, among other projects.

In case you miss him, you can look forward to Cheikh performing at La Grande Fete on Friday, March 28.